Exploring Fusion Cuisine: Wagyu Tacos with Unique Flavors

As in many American households, tacos may be part of your weekly dinner lineup. If you're looking to mix things up with new ingredients, consider creating an Asian fusion take on this Mexican classic. Wagyu beef tacos introduce a premium ingredient to the humble street food to create an elevated taco dinner.

Wagyu Flavor Profiles

You might be wondering why Wagyu beef could not be combined with the traditional taco flavorings, such as cumin, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder and chili powder. While these ingredients are delicious when used with regular taco fillings like shredded chicken or ground beef, Wagyu has a more refined and subtle flavor which could be quickly overpowered by these stronger flavors.

Taking an Asian fusion approach is a fantastic way to balance the delicate natural flavors of Wagyu with a traditional taco. We recommend sticking to a profile with Asian flavors, such as radish, grated wasabi, ginger, cabbage, or cilantro, so you and your guests can enjoy the full richness of the Wagyu with the convenience and fun of a classic taco dinner.

Wagyu Taco Ingredients

Keep classic Japanese cuisine in mind when planning your Wagyu beef taco meal. The following ingredient list shows an example of the types of flavors that make the most sense for this simple yet flavorful preparation.

  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, stemmed and chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 oz. vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp mayo
  • 2 small radishes, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 head of napa cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1 lime, wedged
  • 8 oz. Wagyu steak
  • 4 taco shells, crunchy or soft

How to Make Wagyu Steak Tacos

Wagyu beef cooks very quickly, so you will want to complete the other steps prior to cooking it. The first step is to prepare the two sauces. First, make a spicy cilantro salsa:

  1. Blend the jalapeno and cilantro in a food processor until it reaches a puree consistency.
  2. Pulse in the salt.
  3. Slowly drizzle the vegetable oil into the mixture to emulsify.

Next, prepare your sriracha mayo:

  1. Mix the sriracha and mayonnaise together in a bowl.
  2. Taste and add a pinch of salt and/or sugar to taste.

The cabbage slaw is next:

  1. Combine the radishes and slaw together in a bowl.
  2. Add a squeeze of lime and mix.

Now, it is time to prepare the Wagyu:

  1. Salt all sides of the Wagyu steak.
  2. Bring a pan to medium-high heat, then add the Wagyu.
  3. Sear on each side for 1 minute or until the steak reaches medium-rare doneness.
  4. Let the Wagyu rest for 5 minutes, then cut into small pieces.
  5. Put the Wagyu pieces in a bowl with the spicy cilantro sauce and gently mix.

After all your prep, assembling the tacos is the final step. Here's how to do it:

  1. Add the Wagyu pieces covered in cilantro sauce to the taco shell.
  2. Top with a drizzle of sriracha mayo and some of the slaw.
  3. Serve with a lime wedge.